The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) has announced a significant leadership transition within its corporate structure, promoting Shirley Dewi to the position of executive vice president of IAPMO R&T. In her new capacity, Dewi will assume comprehensive strategic leadership and oversight responsibilities for the organization’s extensive certification and compliance operations. This vital portfolio encompasses core divisions such as Product Certification, the Systems Certification Body, and Continuous Compliance, positioning her at the helm of operations that directly impact safety, quality, and regulatory adherence across multiple industrial sectors.
Dewi’s ascension to the executive vice president role highlights a career defined by exceptional leadership, deep industry expertise, and a steadfast commitment to professional excellence. Over nearly two decades with the organization, her contributions have been instrumental to the continued success, expansion, and modernization of IAPMO R&T. In this elevated role, she will help guide the organization’s ongoing strategic expansion and technological innovation. Furthermore, she will work to strengthen cross-functional collaboration across all certification and compliance operations, directly advancing IAPMO’s foundational mission of protecting public health, safety, and environmental integrity worldwide.
Company executives have expressed immense confidence in Dewi’s ability to steer the organization through its next phase of development. Dave Viola, CEO of IAPMO, praised her remarkable track record and steady progression within the company since she first joined nearly twenty years ago.
"Shirley has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her career with IAPMO, and she has consistently shown the ability to grow programs, build strong relationships and take on new challenges," said IAPMO CEO Dave Viola. "Her extensive experience in certification, standards development and organizational management makes her exceptionally well positioned to lead IAPMO R&T into its next chapter. We are confident her leadership will strengthen collaboration, drive operational excellence and create new opportunities for the future of R&T."
Dewi’s professional journey with IAPMO R&T began in 2007, marking the start of a long-standing dedication to standards compliance and organizational quality management. Before her tenure at IAPMO, she built a diverse and robust professional foundation working as a quality manager in the highly demanding plastic injection molding and electronics industries. Her early career also included valuable experience as a contract auditor for IAPMO R&T and serving as an operations analyst for Lockheed Martin IMS. Dewi academic background further supports her executive capabilities, holding a bachelor’s degree in business management from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Since joining IAPMO R&T, Dewi has consistently taken on increasingly senior leadership positions, playing a pivotal role in scaling the organization’s service offerings to meet evolving global demands. Early in her career, as the manager of Management System Registration Services, she demonstrated a clear vision for organizational growth by successfully expanding the department’s operational scope far beyond its traditional roots in the plumbing and mechanical industries. Under her strategic guidance, the department began serving a diverse array of complex organizations, including prominent aerospace firms, educational institutions, government entities, and major oil refineries. Her success in this arena eventually led to her appointment as senior vice president of the department, where she oversaw its critical transition into the Systems Certification Body.
Under Dewi’s direct leadership, the Systems Certification Body has significantly broadened its management systems certification capabilities. Today, the division provides rigorous third-party auditing and certification services across a remarkably broad spectrum of industries. These sectors range from aerospace engineering and medical device manufacturing to general manufacturing, environmental management systems, occupational health and safety, and information security. The expanded portfolio curated under her watch enables organizations worldwide to demonstrate seamless conformance with internationally recognized standards. At the same time, it provides ongoing monitoring and surveillance to support continued certification, risk management, and regulatory compliance.
Beyond her domestic and operational achievements within the United States, Dewi’s leadership has also left a permanent, transformative mark on IAPMO’s international footprint, most notably in Indonesia. She played an instrumental role in the complex diplomatic and technical efforts that ultimately contributed to Indonesia’s landmark adoption of a national plumbing standard. This standard was modeled directly upon IAPMO’s renowned Uniform Plumbing Code. Furthermore, her efforts were vital to the establishment and growth of PT IAPMO Group Indonesia, a comprehensive facility that offers testing, inspection, certification, and professional training services tailored to both the domestic Indonesian market and the broader international arena.
Reflecting on her promotion and the responsibilities ahead, Dewi expressed deep gratitude and optimism for the future of the organization.
"I am honored by the trust and confidence IAPMO has placed in me through this promotion and grateful for the opportunity to serve in this new role," Dewi said. "I am excited for the future and the opportunities ahead for IAPMO R&T. Together with our talented team and through strong collaboration across our organization, we will continue building upon IAPMO R&T’s decades of customer excellence, technical credibility and trusted service while driving innovation and speed to market to better serve our customers and industry partners."
As she steps into the role of executive vice president, Dewi will maintain direct oversight of the strategic direction and daily coordination across Product Certification, the Systems Certification Body, and Continuous Compliance. Her core focus will remain centered on driving operational excellence, fostering interdepartmental collaboration, encouraging technological innovation, and ensuring sustainable, long-term growth for IAPMO R&T as it navigates an increasingly complex global regulatory landscape.
